Tape dispenser



A. E. SLAWIK TAPE DISPENSER June 15, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 12, 1951 BY g,

June 15, 1954 A s w K 2,681,186

TAPE DISPENSER Filed April 12, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR Patented June 15, 1954 means UNITED STATEd RATENT OFFICE TAPE DISPENSER Albert E. Slawik, St. Paul, Minn. Application April 12, 1951, Serial No. 220,677

9 Claims. 1

My invention relates to an improvement in tape dispenser and deals particularly with a dispenser useful in supporting and dispensing pressure sensitive tape and the like.

Various types of dispensers have been employed for use with pressure sensitive tape and similar materials. Most of these dispensers support the tape in a position where it is exposed to atmosphere. Most such dispensers are also relatively difficult to produce if constructed of plastic or similar material. The present invention is designed to avoid these previous difiiculties.

A feature of the present invention lies in the provision of a tape dispenser which may be easily manufactured of plastic or similar material at a low cost of production. The dispenser comprises two main parts, both of which may be molded of plastic and both of which fit together to form the finished article. When combined the two parts telescope together to form a closure for the tape contained.

A feature of the present invention lies in the provision of a tape dispenser which includes two disc-like members having peripheral walls which telescope together. An opening is provided in each of these walls through which the tape may be drawn. When the openings are in registry the tape may be readily removed from its supply roll. When relatively rotated so that the two openings are not in registry, the roll of tape is enclosed.

A feature of the present invention lies in the fact that the end of the tape on the tape roll is clamped between the inner and outer peripheral walls of the two telescoping parts in closed position of the dispenser. The outer peripheral wall is so shaped as to clamp the tape between the two walls when the two parts of the dispenser are rotated in one direction. A short length of tape extends beyond the clamped area to the tape cutting blade. When the two parts of the dispenser are rotated in the opposite direction the clamped portion of the tape tends to direct the projecting end of the tape strip outwardly from the dispenser so that it may be easily grasped between the fingers.

An added feature of the present invention lies in the provision of a tape dispenser comprising two telescoping parts which are eccentrically mounted so that the tape may be clamped during the cutting operation. By firmiy holding the tape between the two parts of the dispenser the free end of the tape may be torn off without pulling' additional tape from the tape roll.

It is also a feature of the present invention to interlock the two parts of the dispenser in closed position thereof. The pivot structure pivotally connecting the two parts of the dispenser include interlocking members which can move axially in only one rotative position of the two dispenser parts.

When the parts of the dispenser are in any other rotative position the two parts are interlocked together and held from operation.

These and other objects and novel features of my invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of my specification:

Figure l isa perspective view of the dispenser, a portion of one cover. being broken away to disclose the internal construction.

Figure 2 is a. sectional view through the dispenser illustrated in Figure 1. showing the two dispenser parts in closed position.

Figure. 3 is a view similar to Figure 2. showing the two dispenser parts in open position.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken through the axis of the two dispenser parts.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the parts of my dispenser, av portion being broken away to disclose the pivot structure.

Figure 6 is. a perspective view of the other dispenser part, a portion thereof being broken away to disclose the pivot structure.

Figure 7 is an exploded view showing portions of the two pivot structures showing the manner in which these two parts may fit together.

The dispenser is indicated in general by the letter A and comprises the part It best illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawings and the part it illustrated in general in Figure 6 of the drawings. The part it includes a.- disc-like end plate 42 which is provided with. aright angularly extends ing peripheral wall, It. The wall i3 is not completely circular in form, as, is best indicated in Figures 2 and 3v of the drawings. As shown in these figures, the wall i3 includes an. arcuate portion which terminates at one. end in an inwardly curved lip M which extends inwardly into close. proximity withv the corresponding wall of the inner section which will be later described in detaii. The other end of the arcuate wall l3 terminates in a substantially straightportion l5 which extends along a chord of the arc. The end 56. of the flattened. portion is is beveled to a relatively. sharp. edge which may or lay not be notched or toothed to assist in the cutting action of the tape.

A pivot shank IT. projects from the disc I 2 at a point off-set from the center of arcuation of the wall 3. This pivot ll includes a circular lower portion 19. A generally semi-cylindrical projection 21] projects from the cylindrical portion 19, the entire pivot ll extending substantially the same height as the arcuate side wall l3. A wedge shaped segment Zl is cut from this semi-cylindrical projection 23 at a point spaced from the extremity of the projection. This wedge shaped notch forms a part of the locking mechanism as will be later more clearly described.

The portion H of the dispenser comprises a disc-shaped closure 22 designed to extend parallel to the disc closure l2 in assembled condition of the dispenser. An arcuate wall 23 projects outwardly from one surface of the disc 22, the wall being generally cylindrical in form, but with its axis off-set from the center or" the disc-like closure 22. The wall 23 is not completely circular in form, having spaced ends 2 3 and 25 forming an opening in the wall. The ends is and 25 are in the form of enlarged beads, the beads projecting outwardly beyond the periphery of the outer surface of the wall 23. The opening 25 formed between the wall ends 24 and 25 is designed to move into or out of registry with the opening 21 between the ends it and I of the outer shell or wall 13.

A sleeve 29 is provided on the disc 22 concentric with the wall 23 but off-set from the center of said disc. This sleeve 29 includes a semi-cylindrical plug 39 which is preferably integral with the sleeve 29, but which may be adhered or otherwise secured thereto. A wedge shaped notch 3! is provided at one end of the plug 3%), this notch being provided at the end of the sleeve 29 which adjoins the disc 22. This notch forms an under cut for accommodation of the wedge shaped portion 32 of the pivot I! overlying the wedgeshaped notch 2| therein.

The tape roll B is provided with a core 33 of proper diameter to encircle the sleeve 29 and to rotate freely relative thereto. In assembling the parts of the dispenser the tape roll B is inserted into the part II of the dispenser and the part It is inverted from the position illustrated in Figure 5 and slipped down into telescoping relation with the part H. Before assembly the free end of the tape on the tape roll is drawn through the opening of the dispenser part i l.

The manner in which the pivot structure of the dispenser fits together is best indicated in Figure 7 of the drawings. The semi-cylindrical projection 26 of the pivot ll slides into the sleeve 28 and alongside of the semi-cylindrical plug (it.

This guides the cylindrical portion IQ of the pivot [1 into the sleeve 29 above the end surface 3 of the plug 30. When the two parts of the dispenser are fully telescoped the portion 32 of the pivot I! which extends beyond the undercut or notch 2| may interlock into the wedge shaped notch 3| upon rotation of the two parts in one relative direction. Simultaneously the semi-cylindrical upper portion of the plug 35 may extend into the notch 2| of the pivot ll. Thus while the two parts of the dispenser may be separated when they have been pivoted in one direction to one extreme position, they interlock together in all other rotative positions so that the two parts will not separate.

As indicated in Figures 1 and 4 of the drawings, the disc-like closures I2 and 22 are provided with angularly spaced knobs 35 which assist in preventing the two parts of the dispenser from slipping in the hands. The tape may be drawn from the dispenser when the two parts thereof are in the position illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings. In operation of the dispenser one part [B is rotated relative to the other part II thereof until the openings 26 and 21 more or less register. The tape from the tape roll B may then be drawn outwardly to the desired extent. The two dispenser parts are then rotated in a reverse direction until the tape becomes locked between the enlarged beaded end 24 of the dispenser part II and the straight wall portion [5 of the dispenser part Ill. With the tape firmly clamped, it may be pulled over the sharp or toothed surface 16 and severed at the desired length. The

'- dispenser remains in the position shown in Figure 2 until more tape is to be used.

As the two dispenser parts are rotated from the position shown in Figure 2 to the position shown in Figure 3, the sticky or adhesive side of the tape is against the bead 24 and the smooth outer surface is against the flat area I5 of the dispenser part it. Any tendency for the severed end of the tape to adhere to the toothed or sharpened edge It of the dispenser part i0 causes the intermediate portion of the tape between the bead 25 and the cutting edge It to loop or bend. Further movement between the two parts detaches the severed end of the tape from the cutting edge It and leaves this severed edge projecting outwardly into a position where it may be easily grasped by the fingers. Even if the severed end of the tape does not adhere to the cutting edge and the tape remains extending tangentially from the bead 24, it is spaced from the wall 23 of the inner respective part and is therefore readily accessible to the fingers.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my tape dispenser and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A tape dispenser including a pair of disclike closures having arcuate walls projecting from one side thereof, said walls being designed to extend in telescoping relation, said walls having openings therein, one of said closures having a sleeve projecting therefrom partially enclosed by the wall thereupon, and a cylindrical pivot on the other of said closures engageable in said sleeve, said pivot supporting the parts described for relative pivotal movement to move the openings in said walls into or out of registry, and means on said pivot and in said sleeve for limiting relative pivotal movement in both directions.

2. The structure described in claim 1 and in which said sleeve is off-set from the center of said disc-like closure to which is it secured.

3. The structure described in claim 1 and in:- cluding interlocking means for locking said sleeve and pivot from axial movement.

4. A tape dispenser including a closure plate, a wall projecting therefrom and designed to substantially enclose a roll of tape supported within the same, said wall having an opening therein through which the tape may be drawn, a second closure plate designed to overlie said wall and extend generally parallel to said first closure plate, a sleeve connected to one of said-closure plates and a cooperable pivot connected to the other of said closure plates and engageable into said sleeve to pivotally connect the same, a wall portion on said second closure plate movable into or out of position to substantially close said opening, and an outwardly projecting bead on the inner of said walls movable toward the wall of the second closure plate upon relative rotation in on direction.

5. The structure described in claim 4 and cluding cooperable interlocking means on said pivot and said sleeve to hold said pivot and sleeve from relative axial movement.

6. The structure described in claim 4 and in which said wall portion on said second closure plate includes a toothed edge.

7. The structure described in claim 4 and in which the sleeve and pivot support the wall having said opening for movement toward or away from the wall portion of the second closure plate.

8. A tape dispenser including two parts each including a closure plate and an arcuate wall, said walls having openings therein, one of said walls telescoping within the other of said walls,

said one wall having an outward projection adjacent to the opening therein, means pivotally connecting said closure plates in a manner to support the same for limited pivotal movement, said outward projection pivoting toward and away from the wall of the other closure plate to clamp the tape between said projection and the wall of said other closure plate.

9. The structure described in claim 8 and including a cutting edge adjacent the opening in the wall on said other closure plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 342,354 Harper May 25, 1886 2,073,719 Ross Mar. 16, 1937 2,114,628 Carruthers Apr. 19, 1938 2,167,908 Richards Aug. 1, 1939 2,476,593 Gerbing July 19, 1949 

